Chapter 576: You

"I didn't expect Lian Ye to invite us over for a meal."

At the gate of the Qianshou Feijian Residence, Xiaochun Zhuanqin said with a surprised look.

You should know that ever since the war ended, Lian Ye hadn't invited them to his home for a meal for a long time.

Usually the gatherings were held at a restaurant under Lian Ye's name, and he never cooked himself.

"Xiaochun, you're here too." Uchiha Jing said with a smile, "I didn't expect Lian Ye to be so generous today, inviting us to eat."

They had been busy with their own affairs and didn't know that a few of them had gone to YueQiu to retrieve Hinata Yuki.

"Offering kindness without cause is either treachery or theft." Mizuto Menyan pushed his glasses, "Being invited for no reason must hide something!"

You should know that Lian Ye spends his days lounging at home soaking up the sun, or he leaves the Village to travel the Ninja World.

Besides Teacher Feijian and Orochimaru, who are busy researching, even Tuan Cang never got a chance to taste Lian Ye's cooking, let alone their former comrades.

Nara Hon looked at the three people gathered at the doorway and asked curiously, "Since you're all at the door, why don't you go in?"

"Nara Hon, you're here too." Xiaochun Zhuanqin explained, "We're wondering why Lian Ye invited us to eat."

Nara Hon actually didn't know the reason either, but felt it must be linked to Hinata Yuki.

It's just that Nara Hon didn't say anything.

"There's nothing to guess about; we'll know once we go in, right?"

"That's true."

The few of them stopped hesitating and pushed the door open.

"You've arrived."

As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw Tuan Cang lying there basking in the sun, and sounds came from the kitchen—no need to guess, it was Lian Ye busy inside.

Xiaochun Zhuanqin glanced at the kitchen, then at the relaxed Tuan Cang, and his eyes lit up as if he'd thought of something interesting.

"How did Tuan Cang go bad with Lian Ye?" Uchiha Jing said with a laugh.

Uchiha Jing, however, knows that Tuan Cang let Ri Zhan serve as acting Hokage, while he himself went traveling with Lian Ye.

Ri Zhan had plenty of complaints for Tuan Cang during that period.

"Idling is still idling; basking in the sun is good for the body," Tuan Cang stretched lazily, having arrived here early this morning.

To be honest, that fellow Lian Ye isn't as fast at cooking as before; it seems he's really slacked off over the years.

Tuan Cang was considering, when he later returned to the office to handle official matters, whether to have Lian Ye deliver a meal to him at mealtime.

Honestly, given their relationship, if Tuan Cang really asked, Lian Ye would almost certainly not refuse.

After all, Lian Ye already delivered meals to Qianshou Feijian and Orochimaru, so sending one to him as well is no big deal.

It's just that Tuan Cang doesn't want his good brother to be overworked.

That guy lounges in the yard all day soaking up the sun; making Lian Ye run an extra errand would exhaust him to death…

"What about Ri Zhan, didn't Lian Ye invite him?"

Mizuto Menyan looked around and, not seeing Sarutobi Ri Zhan's figure, asked puzzledly.

"He should be here soon." Tuan Cang didn't want Ri Zhan to travel with them, but he wouldn't stop people from coming here to eat.

Tuan Cang isn't that overbearing…

His not arriving at this hour only shows that Ri Zhan's official duties aren't finished yet.

After chatting in the courtyard for a while, Sarutobi Ri Zhan dragged his weary body into the yard.

Since becoming acting Hokage, the daily high‑intensity work has made him feel several years older.

"Sorry, I'm late."

Speaking, Ri Zhan looked resentfully at Tuan Cang, who was still lounging on a chair soaking up the sun.

Damn it, I got up early to handle official business, and this guy just comes here to bask in the sun.

"You all go inside and sit; why are you just standing in the yard?"

Hearing the chatter from the yard, Lian Ye stuck his head out and said to them.

His wok is already smoking from the spatula, and he has no mind to reminisce with them.

Tuan Cang heard this and rose first; the others followed suit.

When they entered the house and saw the lone person inside, they froze on the spot.

"Are you… Hinata Yuki?"

Facing the shocked gazes of the crowd, Hinata Yuki smiled and nodded.

"Long time no see, everyone."

"You're not dead?!" Uchiha Jing's eyes widened; they had always thought Yuki had died on the Battlefield.

They never expected to see him today in Lian Ye's house.

Wait, why is he in Lian Ye's house?!

Xiaochun instantly spotted the clue.

Could it be that Yuki has been hidden by Lian Ye all these years?

If that's the case, wouldn't Tuan Cang be angry?

Thinking that way, Xiaochun instinctively looked at the Tuan Cang ahead and saw that his profile showed no sign of displeasure or anger.

Tsk tsk, looks like they've known about this for a long time.

Hinata Yuki noticed a strange gaze fall on him, and when he looked up, he met Xiaochun's excited eyes.

Hinata Yuki: "???"

What's happening, why look at me with that expression?

Fortunately, Xiaochun realized their slip, quickly withdrew their gaze and offered an apologetic smile.

Hinata Yuki didn't know what had happened, but their face still bore a smile.

The dishes are here.

Soon, Chef Lian, who had been bustling in the kitchen all morning, carried up the finished delicacies.

"You, just soaking up the sun is one thing, but why are you standing around here? Bring me the dishes."

Lian Ye looked at the idle Tuan Cang and said irritably.

When did this guy become so lazy? It seems I spoiled him; at his age he's still completely immature.

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang: "……"

Good brothers really have changed; they now start ordering me around.

But not long ago it wasn't like this…

"Lian Yejun, let me help you," Xiaochun Zhuanqin interjected at the right moment to smooth things over.

It seems Hinata Yuki's presence still affects the relationship between them.

Fine, I'll help smooth things over myself; none of us have it easy.

We mustn't let it affect their feelings.

The three of them went to the kitchen together to bring out the dishes, and before long the table was laden with food.

At first, Lian Ye only intended to invite Hinata Yuki alone, not even planning to ask his good brother Tuan Cang.

After all, who would have taken them to the Laboratory as Lab Mice?

Making some delicacies as compensation wouldn't be a bad idea.

But Yuki thought the acoustics for two people were poor, so he had Lian Ye invite former classmates.

It so happened that he hadn't seen them in many years.

At the dining table, the others learned from Lian Ye about Hinata Yuki's experiences over the years, each sighing with regret.

They hadn't expected their former classmates to have such a background.

Hinata Yuki sat to Lian Ye's left, Zhi Cun Tuan Zang sat to Lian Ye's right, and Xiaochun Zhuanqin periodically surveyed the three with an odd gaze.

It left the three parties feeling inexplicably uneasy.

Why is she looking at me with that kind of expression…

……

……

ps: Everyone, I'm sorry, please don't keep the book; I'll try to add updates on weekends, and I won't charge money without delivering any work anymore, eee…